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Next man up. Texas has several talented wide receivers on the roster this season.
Early reports from Texas’ first fall scrimmage fear that wide receiver Isaiah Neyor suffered a season-ending knee injury. Continue reading “A look at Texas’ depth at wide receiver following Isaiah Neyor’s injury”
Texas’ wide receiver depth has been tested over the last week.
Texas had a multiple injury scares in Saturday’s scrimmage. Those incidents bring to light the importance of depth for any team wishing to contend. Continue reading “Texas Football: Potential injuries reinforce the importance of depth”
Sarkisian released a statement regarding Agiye Hall on Friday afternoon.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian released a statement on Friday afternoon regarding wide receiver Agiye Hall. Continue reading “Steve Sarkisian suspends Texas WR Agiye Hall indefinitely following arrest for criminal mischief”
Multiple players can improve their standing within the depth chart.
With August approaching and Texas set to prepare for the 2022 season, a number of players can improve their standing within the depth chart.
Multiple positions are up for grabs, with none more important than quarterback and left tackle. Quinn Ewers and Hudson Card will battle for the right to run Sarkisian’s offense, while Andrej Karic and Kelvin Banks will battle for the premier offensive line spot.
With Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor figuring to take the most snaps at receiver, Jordan Whittington, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jahleel Billingsley, Agiye Hall and others will jockey for the remaining spots.
Texas could have another open spot on the offensive line. The defense should have quite a few openings as well. Here are players with the most to gain from a strong fall camp.
This transfer class seems different than any group of transfers to Texas in recent memory.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was active in improving the team through the transfer portal in 2022. Adding transfer players is not a new practice, but this class seemed different than any group of transfers in recent memory.
First off, Sarkisian brought in a number of proven players. In fact, nearly every player has contributed significantly to their past team.
In past years, Texas fans bought into the transfer hype for more than one player who showed promise on the field. Tarik Black was lauded for his high school upside and early production, but it never translated to the field at Texas.
Heading into the 2022 season, let’s take a look at which players you can expect to contribute immediately on the Forty Acres, on a scale of 1-10.
Football is a chess match, and Steve Sarkisian is starting with more pieces than most of his opponents this year.
The Texas Longhorns will win games by creating matchup problems in 2022. They have built a team to exploit any opponent’s deficiencies.
Football is a chess match, and Steve Sarkisian is starting with more pieces than most of his opponents this year.
Each of his offensive weapons brings varying abilities to the table. Tarique Milton, Brenen Thompson and Jordan Whittington should rack up yards after catch with their elite speed and quickness. Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor and Agiye Hall are dangerous home-run threats as downfield targets.
At tight end, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jahleel Billingsley have exceptional athleticism and catching ability for their position.
Texas’ four running backs are all difficult to bring down. The group has strength, speed or a combination.
Let’s look at which formations will bring out the best from Texas’ skill positions.
Certain players have a way of raising a team’s ceiling.
Certain players have a way of raising a team’s ceiling. Texas has a number of those players. They are sometimes called “X-Factors.”
Texas has more than a few dependable starters. We know what Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy can contribute in a full season.
On the offensive line, Junior Angilau is as reliable as his unit was unreliable last season. Entering his fourth season as a starter, runs behind the redshirt senior near the goal line are a safe bet to reach the end zone.
The offense and defense also have a number of wild cards. Some have yet to produce at the college level, while others bring baggage from their time at other programs.
With that said, here are five players that can change the Longhorns’ trajectory in the most significant way.
Former Alabama running back Keilan Robinson made a strong declaration about Texas’ matchup with the Tide.
One former Alabama player didn’t hold back when speaking on Texas’ matchup with the Tide in September. Former Alabama and current Texas Longhorns running back [autotag]Keilan Robinson[/autotag] recently spoke about their matchup on a Twitter space that he hosted. Here is what Robinson said:
“Ain’t no chip on our shoulder, it’s just a … it might be a chip (because) it’s Texas, because you there’s a few people that might be trying to count us out, but knowing what I know, seeing what I see every day being here and being there, I know we can beat them boys. We just got to do what we got to do.”
Robinson spent just one season at Alabama in 2019 before sitting out the following season due to COVID-19. In that one season, he had 39 carries for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Soon after Alabam won the 2020 national championship, he elected to transfer to Texas and re-unite with several former Alabama coaches and players.
He wasn’t the only former member of the Crimson Tide to head to the Texas. Alabama lost numerous players and coaches to the Longhorns once former Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian left for Texas.
Since then, there has been tension between the two programs. Robinson and former Alabama wide receiver [autotag]Agiye Hall[/autotag] have both had things to say about the program after transferring.
When speaking with 247Sports’ Chip Brown, Hall had this to say:
One thing that really stood out is the culture. Bama fans — they’re not really loving, if I could say — even when you leave. Texas fans are like a family. They love you unconditionally.”
This Week 2 contest will mean something special. It will likely be one of many matchups to come as the Longhorns are slated to join the SEC in the coming years. This game will likely determine how each team’s season will go. It is shaping to be a game for the centuries.
'I know we can beat them boys': Former Alabama football player Keilan Robinson discusses Tide versus Longhorns Week 2 matchup https://t.co/AMqxfFZWcb
— CBS 42 (@CBS_42) July 6, 2022
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama Football throughout the 2022 offseason.
Agiye Hall could be primed for a great run at Texas.
Former Alabama wide receiver Agiye Hall may be primed for a great run at Texas, according to Brad Crawford of 247Sports.
Crawford said the following about the new Longhorns receiver when discussing his boom-or-bust prospects from the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 season.
Hall appeared in seven games as a true freshman last season for the Crimson Tide and caught four passes for 72 yards. His best production came in the national championship game against Georgia after he caught two passes for 52 yards following an injury to starter Jameson Williams. He’ll try and break into the wide receiver rotation at Texas that includes Xavier Worthy, a freshman All-American last season, and Isaiah Neyor, a decorated transfer from Wyoming. The talent is deep in the wideout room and Hall, if he avoids any off-the-field distractions, could be an instant-splash type of playmaker given his skill set.
Hall certainly fits the description of boom-or-bust players, but the already loaded position group affords Texas to take time developing him.
Texas has a legit WR room without Agiye Hall. Icing on the cake if he bolsters it. pic.twitter.com/aAQt31A0Nx
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) April 27, 2022
While Hall won’t be asked to lead the team in receiving this year, he can make an immediate impact in Steve Sarkisian’s offense.
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Steve Sarkisian is tasked with using his team’s best position groups to create matchup problems for opponents.
Styles make fights. The Texas Longhorns football season will hinge on how well they match up with their scheduled opponents. Continue reading “Texas Football: Five positional matchups to look forward to in 2022”
